Farrah Fawcett - a life remembered

Smiling radiantly for the camera, with her famous mane tumbling over her shoulders, the young Farrah Fawcett struck a swimsuit pose which in 1976 would catapult her to international stardom. She was snapped by a poster company which had heard about an up-and-coming Texas beauty doing shampoo commercials. The result – which used an old blanket from the photographer's car as a backdrop –smashed all sales records. A still-unrivalled 12 million copies were snapped up, bringing Farrah's tousled hair and beautiful smile to the attention of the world

Not long after her swimsuit poster appeared Farrah landed her first TV role as crime fighter Jill Monroe in Charlie's Angles. The show – which depicted the adventures of three female police officers who became undercover private detectives – was a huge hit, and brought Farrah the first of several awards. It was a dream come true for the youngster, who'd moved to LA to become an actress. She'd been studying for a degree in microbiology in Texas when she caught the eye of an agent, who suggested she set her sights on Hollywood. A year after joining Charlie's Angels she quit to seek meatier roles

Shortly after she moved to LA she also found love, in the form of actor Lee Majors, who went on to star in Seventies hit The Six Million Dollar Man. The pair married in 1973 and set up a production company together, but the union wasn't to last. They separated in 1979 and divorced a year later

Determined to be taken seriously as an actress Farrah signed up to appear in off-1983 Broadway play Extremities, in which she played a rape victim who takes revenge on her attacker. The role drew critical praise and was followed by another notable performance as a victim of domestic violence in TV movie The Burning Bed, which delivered the first of three Emmy nominations

As she recovered from the demise of her first marriage, Farrah found support in the friendship of Love Story actor Ryan O'Neal. And after her divorce came through the pair's friendship blossomed into love and an on-off romance which would last through the rest of Farrah's life

In 1995 she was invested into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There to see her receive the star were her proud parents Pauline – a homemaker - and oil field contractor James William Fawcett. As her beaming mum stood at her side it was clear who Farrah had inherited her smile from. The actress said her mum, who passed away in 2005, was also responsible for her name. She apparently "made it up" as it went well with her last name

Although she never received a coveted Oscar nod, the actress' talent was recognised with several other nominations. She was shortlisted for an Emmy on three occasions and notched up five Golden Globe nods

Farrah leaves behind one child, Redmond O'Neal, her son with Ryan O'Neal. She's pictured with him at a Hollywood premiere in 2003

There was a poignant reunion for the actress and her Charlie's Angels co-stars Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith in 2006. At the Emmy Awards the trio jointly paid tribute to the man behind the show, film and TV producer Aaron Spelling, who'd passed away following a battle with cancer. "He changed my life," said a tearful Farrah, who was just a month away from learning she also had the disease

Upon being diagnosed the actress vowed to beat it and, after chemotherapy, was told she was in remission on her 60th birthday. Less than four months later, though, the disease returned. Farrah travelled to Germany to seek alternative treatment, documenting her battle against the disease in a documentary. The result was broadcast on US TV in May 2009, a month after reports began to appear that the actress' health was deteriorating. Long time partner Ryan O'Neal, who had his own brush with leukaemia, said the ordeal had brought them closer. "I fell in love with her all over again because of how she handled this," the 68-year-old said. "The hope started to fade, but not for Farrah. She continued fighting. There was always a courage there, and a quiet dignity"

On June 25, 2009 with Ryan and her friend Alana Stewart at her side, Farrah passed away at St John's Medical Center in Santa Monica